<snip>I think the FT-8900 is a bit of an enigma. Being FM-only for TX is somewhat limiting, having SSB would I think make it much more flexible.<'snip>

SSB on 10 with a vertical antenna (even an outbacker type) seems limiting to me as well, but people do it. I have seen rovers use a 6m horizontal beam on top of their cars, chasing grid squares. Can you imagine even three elements on 10m?
That's a lot of metal in the air for mobile ops.

Paging rhyary! Wire me $800 and I'd be sure to work it through its paces, just to be helpful, dontcha know.

The ICOM IC-746 is a really, really awesome all mode (CW, AM, FM, SSB, packet) 160m-6m & 2m radio (40W on AM, 100W all other modes). This radio would blow away a FT-897 and is $100 less than a new one of those. Give up battery options (no biggie) and UHF to it, but generation newer DSP and probably an order better receiver.

If I had $800 I'd be all over this one, that's pretty close to 1/2 of its new price. In fact, if someone wanted to buy my refreshed Alinco DX-70T(H) and FT-8800R for $800... :-)

Hmm, I am pretty sold on the Kenwood TS 480HX. I just have to come up with all the other components, mounting locations and at some point save enough money for it. The detachable plate of the 480 is important to me. The TS-480 seems to be capable and designed for Mobile operation. The only think I am not sure about is that Kenwood came out with the TS-590 (not mobile) and I get the sense they might come out with a newer 480 soon. And I am not in a rush to begin with.

Hmm, I am pretty sold on the Kenwood TS 480HX. I just have to come up with all the other components, mounting locations and at some point save enough money for it. The detachable plate of the 480 is important to me. The TS-480 seems to be capable and designed for Mobile operation. The only think I am not sure about is that Kenwood came out with the TS-590 (not mobile) and I get the sense they might come out with a newer 480 soon. And I am not in a rush to begin with.

Rami

I would not wait on what might come down the pike, budget what you want to spend and jump in when the right one comes up. One thing I can guarantee is that what you buy will /always/ be obsolete sooner rather than later... Buying used is the best way to maximize your budget since hams are chronic tinkers and ones with more money tend to upgrade a lot. What I did at home was to start saving for a FT-450 and when I had enough money a very nice DX-70T(H) (with an Alpine Antennas screwdriver to boot) showed up on Craigslist, which I ended up getting instead and with the left over money I bought that LDG Z-11 Pro II and a Astron RS-35M power supply. I essentially went from nothing to a complete shack for $600. Now to just finish installation. :-)

The TS-480 is a very nice radio! One thing I did not like about it was that the face is pretty bulky, couldn't find a good place in my truck for it. But with a Cruiser that is probably a lot less of an issue compared to my little tin box. A center console like in the 80 would make the difference, something I don't have.

It's also pretty pricey IMHO since it's performance is closer to the FT-857, being that both have DSP in the AF section only. If I was gonna spend $1,000+ it would definitely be on a IC-7000, which has a generation newer DSP that's placed in the IF, where it's going to be much more effective. The IC-7000 is a close competitor to the FT-950/TS-590 level of radio. I expect that Yeasu and Kenwood will have to come up with something comparable (and I'd guess Yeasu will intro or at least annouce the 857/897 successor in 2011) to stay in the game. If ICOM can get the IC-7000 down about $200 it will rule the mobile HF market.

The IC-7000 has been on the short list as well and was recommended to me.
The mounting location on the 80 will be passenger back where the third seat bracket is.
I have 1/0 cable from the second battery terminate there and it powers my electronics. It is also easy to get the antenna wire into that location.

The radio will have to have a face plate that I will bring to the front same as my FTM-350 setup.

I am aware that the 480 DSP is on the AF and I know it should be on the IF. The 480 has two TI 16 bit so it can do a 32bit floating point but i recongnize that it is not current as a true 32bit FP.

I am cool with waiting for an amazing deal on CL...
I have noticed that many hams have many radios, I prefer to buy one and be content with it.

Good points as usual. The Kenwood interface is less menu driven and supposetly will be easier to use on the road. But I checked the IC-7000 again it I have to say it looks impressive. Keeping with the spirit of this thread, I suppose if any of the two will come up on CL in as new condition I will have to be ready with the $$$.

Good points as usual. The Kenwood interface is less menu driven and supposetly will be easier to use on the road. But I checked the IC-7000 again it I have to say it looks impressive. Keeping with the spirit of this thread, I suppose if any of the two will come up on CL in as new condition I will have to be ready with the $$$.

I think you understand my points. I've seen a lot of guys put the cart before the horse. I'm as guilty as anyone, I really like the technical aspect of the hobby. But keep your expectations reasonable because with HF you will be spending more time tinkering and tweaking and I don't want to see you regret spending $1,000 on a radio that ends up being little more than a fancy 2m mobile, you already have a very nice one of those. Mobile operation is for me a lot less of an issue because I just don't do it that much. So menus don't both me and I got the fancy DTMF mic for my radio that has all the important functions at my fingertips anyway. I think of my radio as more of a truck-portable HF rig than as a mobile rig, so to speak (it is my 2m FM for driving since I only have the one radio in the truck).

I am selling my Icom 746 Ham radio. comes with original power cord, hand mic, manual, box and some installed filters. I purchased this radio and have little time to put it to use. Excellent condition!. I will add pics later today.